Building block



June 4, 1940. J. 6. LEE

BUILDING BLOCK Filed Aug. 24, 1958 //v Ja/m 6166 Vf/VTOP 47- 7%:

Patented June 4, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I BUILDING BLOCK John G. Lee, Farmington, Conn.

Application August 24, 1938, Serial No. 226,546

3 Claims.

My invention relates to building blocks.

It has among its objects to provide improved building blocks, and, more particularly, such building blocks especially adapted to the reproduction of architectural forms. A further object of my invention is to provide such improved building blocks wherein it is made possible to provide realistic architectural features on the blocks and to utilize them as a part of the connecting means while producing a wide variety of effects. Still further objects of my invention are to provide such improved constructions having improved connecting means and which are especially adapted to use in connection with blocks of resilient material, such, for example, as those formed of sponge rubber, or the like. These and other advantages of my improved construction will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown for purposes of illustration certain embodiments which my invention may assume in practice- In the drawing:--

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a building constructed in accordance with my improvemerit, certain parts being shown in section and certain blocks being removed, to facilitate illustration;

. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the connecting members for the blocks;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing connecting portions of adjacent blocks and a connecting member therefor;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing a modified construction; and

Fig. 5 is a like view showing a further modifled construction. Referring first to Figures 1 to 3, it will be noted that I have shown a house formed of a series of blocks I and 2, these blocks being of an improved construction and having improved connecting means therebetween, as hereinafter described.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, the blocks I and 2 are formed of resilient material, such as sponge rubber, although I am not limited to the use of such material. Further, it will be observed that these blocks each reproduce architectural forms and that of these blocks the blocks I are what may be called story blocks, 1. e. representing, for example, that part of the building between the sill and the plate, each representing a story height and carrying architectural features indicating windows or doors, while the blocks 2, which may be disposed over a layer of the story blocks I, are what may be called roof blocks, adapted, when assembed, to provide the roof on the building. While I have shown only a form of house of single story type and generally rectangular shape, it will, of course, be evident that the number of stories and the 5 type-of house produced, may be varied within wide limits, and it will, of course, be understood that other buildings than houses may be formed from the blocks, depending upon the architectural features provided on the block surfaces.

Herein, the blocks I are provided with rectangular recesses 3 reproducing window recesses, and also having representations ofblinds 4 printed, or embossed on the material of the block on the sides of these apertures 3, all in such manner as to produce an attractive simulation of a window, the effect being markedly enhanced by the provision of recesses corresponding to the ordinary window recesses. Further, certain of the blocks I are provided with recesses 5 of the same width as the window recesses, but longer and corresponding to a door recess. Here, the surface of this door recess is printed, or otherwise'surfaced, as indicated at 6, to reproduce the doorpanels, and the same treatment may also be used, if desired, in the window recesses to indicate the window sash and glass. Also, the area around the door is preferably surfaced, as shown at I, to represent usual forms of window structures surrounding a door recess. Obviously, certain of the blocks I may have window recesses 3 on all four sides of the same, while others may have one or more door recesses formed therein. Further, as illustrated, both the blocks I and 2 may have suitable recesses 8 in adjacent surfaces which, since they will be hidden when the building is completed, may be without any surrounding simulation of blinds or windows, although, of course, if desired, these recesses may be similarly decorated.

In my improved construction, I also utilize major recessed architectural features such as the simulated building closure recesses comprising the door and window recesses, as a part of the connecting means for the several blocks. Thus, for example, two adjacent window recesses 3 are each adapted to be connected by and cooperate with, an improved connecting member which is adapted to fit in and fill the recesses, while being connected to each in such manner as thereby effectually to connect the adjacent blocks. In a preferred construction, one or more, preferably two or four, of the edge walls of the recesses are suitably undercut or tapered, as by 56 widening the same toward the back of the recesses, as shown at 9, and a connecting member l0 having an oppositely tapered edge, or edges, II, is seated first in one recess 3 and then has its exposed portion seated in the corresponding recess 3 when the blocks are brought together from the relation shown in Figure 3. This connecting member In may be formed of a diiferent material from the blocks; the member I0, when the blocks are formed of sponge rubber, for example, being formed of wood, metal, or some other solid substance, which is adapted to have its edges ll snap over the adjacent edges of the recesses 3 when the parts are pressed together, in such manner as to bring the tapered surfaces on the blocks into engagement with the corresponding tapered surfaces on the edges ll of the connecting member. However, this member ID preferably is formed of the same resilient material as the blocks. Also, the blocks l, 2 may be formed of solid material, as, for example, wood, while the member ID may then be formed of resilient material.

In the use of my improved construction, it is very easy to press any connecting member l0 into the desired recess in one block and then to connect another block thereto by pressure of the edges of the recess 3 in the latter block against the exposed edges ll of the connecting member, in such manner as to cause the parts to snap into the engaged position shown in section in Figure 1. Further, due to the shape of the window and door recesses, and to the shape of the connecting member, as well as the cooperation of these elements, it will be evident that the blocks will be securely connected together in such manner as to prevent angular movement of one relative to the other. At the same time, the blocks may, of course, be readily separated, simply by pulling one apart from the other, the tapered edges on one element or the other then yielding to disengage the engaging surfaces. Preferably, the roof blocks 2 will be similarly connected to the story blocks I through like means, although it will be evident that the recesses and connecting members for connecting such blocks to the blocks I may, if desired, be of different size, while the connecting members may also be of difierent color to expedite identification of the same.

In Figures 4 and 5, I have illustrated modified constructions which may be used if desired. Thus, in Figure 4, a recess 3 is shown in one block having parallel sides l2 cooperating with a reversely tapered connecting member In corresponding to that heretofore described, and having oppositely tapered edges ll. As a result, if like recesses 3 are formed in both blocks of resilient material, the latter will be expanded by the edges ll of the connecting member in to produce interlocking undercuts in effect, regardless of whether the connecting member is of resilient or solid material. On the other hand, for example, if the blocks are of wood and the connecting member is resilient, the edges H thereof will be compressed in such manner as to produce an efiective friction grip. In Figure 5, I have also shown the reverse of the arrangemept shown in Fig. 4, the connecting member being resilient and the blocks resilient or solid but undercut. While not preferred, these constructions also enable the connecting members to be pressed into the recesses 3 in such manner as to connect the blocks in the same general manner as heretofore described.

While not shown, it will, of course, be understood that I contemplate the use of such additional pieces as will give the desired degree of realism, as, for example, chimney or other pieces representing elements of a building, preferably while also using connecting means for these pieces such as above described.

While I have herein specifically described certain forms which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that these forms of the same are chosen for purposes of illustration, and that the invention may be modified and embodied in other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A set of building blocks including a plurality of blocks, each reproducing a major portion of a building having closure openings therein and each having angularly related side walls, certain of which have rectangular recesses therein representing such closure openings, and connecting members cooperating with said blocks and adapted to be seated in opposed recesses in confronting interior side walls of adjacent blocks to frictionally connect adjacent blocks, one of said cooperating elements being resilient and one hav-- ing opposed undercut edges whereby said connecting members may be snapped into confronting recesses in the side walls of adjacent blocks when said recesses and connecting members are in confronting relation and said blocks are pressed laterally together.

2. A set of building blocks including a plurality of blocks, each reproducing a major portion of a building having closure openings therein and each having angularly related side walls, certain of which have rectangular recesses therein decorated to represent such closure openings, and connecting members cooperating with said blocks having portions adapted to be seated in opposed recesses of interior side walls of adjacent blocks and having parallel side walls adapted to interlock with corresponding side walls of said opposed recesses, said recesses having certain of their parallel edges undercut and said connecting members having corresponding undercut edges, and one of said cooperating elements being formed of resilient material, whereby the connecting members may be snapped into opposite recesses to connect adjacent blocks when said connecting members and recesses are in confronting relation and said blocks are pressed together.

3. A set of building blocks including a plurality of blocks, each reproducing a major portion of a building including interior and exterior side walls having closure openings therein and having rectangular recesses in certain of said side walls representing such closure openings, and cooperating connecting members having rectangular interlocking portions adapted to be seated in nonrotating relation in opposed recesses in interior side walls of adjacent blocks, said recesses having opposed undercut edges and said interlocking portions of said connecting members having correspondingly undercut edges, and one of said cooperating elements being formed of resilient ma- JOHN G. LEE. 

